Former DMV investigator charged with forging a cop’s signature on a traffic ticket

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF3823

Date: April 2, 2015

FORMER DMV INVESTIGATOR TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SUBMITTING TRAFFIC TICKET FOR DISMISSAL BY FORGING OFFICER’S SIGNATURE

SANTA ANA – A former California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Investigator is scheduled to be arraigned today for submitting a traffic ticket for dismissal by forging an officer’s signature. Dennis Allan Svet, 51, Murrieta, is charged with one felony count of offering false documentary evidence, one felony count of falsifying documents, and one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months in state prison. He is being held on $20,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned today in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

Svet was a former sworn DMV Investigator but at the time of the crime, he was not employed with the DMV.

On April 27, 2014, Svet is accused of driving his Honda Civic with a false registration tag on his vehicle. He is accused of pulling over for a La Palma Police Department (LPPD) officer for a routine traffic stop. The defendant is accused of presenting the LPPD officer a DMV Investigator business card in an attempt to avoid receiving a ticket. The LPPD officer cited the defendant and reported it to the DMV, who began investigating this case.

Between April 27, 2014, and June 9, 2014, Svet is accused of forging an officer’s signature on the back of his ticket and mailing it to court as proof of correction. The judge, who received the ticket, relied on the falsified signature and dismissed the defendant’s infractions.

DMV investigated this case and the defendant was arrested by the Placentia Police Department yesterday, April 1, 2015.

Deputy District Attorney Jess Rodriguez of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.

###

TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718